As described in our approved proposal, the five primary tasks
of the project are to:

1. Build a multimodal (ISDN and Internet based) electronic infrastructure
for the collaborative development and instructional use of educational
engineering materials. The infrastructure will include ISDN and
Internet-based Desktop Video Conferencing systems, as well as
World Wide Web-based multimedia systems for remote document editing,
document sharing, and newsgroups.

2. To have researchers at four Gateway Schools (including Drexel,
Ohio State, NJIT and Columbia) use the infrastructure to jointly
develop distance learning curricular materials for undergraduate
engineering and architectural education.

3. To use the electronic infrastructure, curriculum materials,
and individual researchers' special expertise in networked, interschool
classes. This will include in-class use of all facets of the infrastructure,
which we will supplement with existing computer laboratories and
computer-projection equipped classrooms.

4. To evaluate:

The performance of the multimodal digital infrastructure as
a toolset for collaborative curriculum development.

The curriculum materials developed by the four-school faculty
team.

The infrastructure's ability to broaden the offerings at each
of the four institutions.

5. To disseminate the results of the project, in a paper and WWW-based
report to NSF-Gateway.

Work Completed Since Interim Report 1:

Task 1 (Infrastructure Development)

Infrastructure development is virtually complete. An extensive
ISDN and Ethernet (TCP/IP) infrastructure in place within Drexel
University, and the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering.
Local lines in design labs have been retested and are operational.
ISDN lines now exist in the following teaching facilities: Hill
Conference Room; Satellite CAD Lab; Senior CAD Lab; and the Multimedia
Lab. Software and hardware distributed among these locations
includes: Mac 9500 PPC, SGI Computers, a variety of PCs, multi
point video conference hardware and software, Localtalk, web browsers
and various web page construction tools including html savvytext
processors, html editors, web page editors, animation and audiocreation
tools, and the requisite utilities necessary to play and manipulate
the constructed web objects.

Columbia has working classroom-based and office-based ISDN DTVC
systems. NJIT and OSU each have one working system, and are currently
installing addition ISDN lines for this project. Proshare, Timbuktoo,
Cu-See-Me are working at OSU, Columbia and Drexel.

Task 2 (Curriculum and Content Development)

The Farnsworth House atmospheric model is almost complete. This
project is available on the WWW at:

http://www.cc.columbia.edu/~archpub/BT/GATEWAY/efa.html

NJIT has prepared an extensive set of curriculum materials and
analysis tools for "Paperless Design of Fabric Structures."
The work is available on the WWW at:

http://www-ec.njit.edu/civil/gateway.html

OSU and NJIT are developing a joint course for fall 1996 based
on these materials.

OSU and Columbia have developed an experimental testbed class
for interschool collaborative design and fabrication of engineering
components using CNC technology.

Drexel has put a variety of course materials on the web for use
by other schools. See:

Drexel has established used a video conferencing link between
their design classrooms and local engineering firms. Currently
on-line is PWI engineering; they specialize in the design of HVAC
systems. Drexel's agreement with PWI allows our students to "call"
(desktop video conference) their firm during a set of pre-established
hours; up to eight (8) hours per week.

Columbia faculty have taught a seminar-style class with Drexel
faculty on structural typology. This session has been recorded
on videotape. We expect to schedule at

least one "consultation" per month between the project
participants during the fall term.

Columbia and OSU are running a testbed class aimed at remote design
collaboration and component prototyping. Students and faculty
are working at both schools to design, analyze and fabricate a
mockup of selected architectural and structural building components.
See:

NJIT and Drexel are developing a paperless design of Fabric structures
interschool class, based on the content developed by NJIT.

Task 4: Evaluation

Evaluation data for all class and curriculum development projects
is being collected as planned.

Forthcoming Work:

We plan to complete the project essentially as outlined in the
approved proposal. However, we are entirely unable to complete
the project by the end of August and urgently need an extension
through September 1996. Following is a summary of Task 3 work
that will be completed or expanded in September 1996: